Lore of Running

Rating:
Summary: Best book on Running!!!
Review: I HAVE READ MANY BOOKS ON RUNNING AND NONE IS AS COMPLETE AND INFORMATIVE AS LORE OF RUNNING!! IT COVERS EVERY ASPECT OF RUNNING FROM THE BASIC FUNCTION OF THE HUMAN CELL AND ITS RELATION TO RUNNING TO RUNNERS INJURIES!!THIS IS THE RUNNERS BIBLE!!TO ALL RUNNERS BUY THIS BOOK!!!

Rating:
Summary: A Comprehensive and Current Work
Review: I think it is important that readers understand precisely what this 931-page books IS, and what it is not. Dr Noakes is a trained physician, a professor of exercise science, and a highly published researcher in the field of exercise physiology. His meticulously researched book (the online references occupy over 100 pages) offers an authoritative compilation of the latest and best research to guide the intelligent coach or self-coached runner in the structuring of productive and safe training regimens. For those who lack a PhD in physiology but still want to understand WHY they should perform specific types of training, based on current research, this book is simply unsurpassed. If all you want is a "table" of training prescriptions with no grounding in research or explanation of validity, then look elsewhere: this book is not for you.

In my opinion, Dr Noakes has done an excellent job of extracting results from current research and translating them from the highly specialized language of sports physiology into language that the intelligent layperson can understand. Indeed, I found the book pitched at a slightly less technical level than the popular competitor by Martin and Coe---a book I hve also found to be invaluable.

Perhaps the most interesting feature of the Fourth Edition is Noakes' unapologetic challenge of THE prevailing paradigm in distance running; he questions the widely accepted belief that an individual's VO(2) max, or maximal oxygen uptake figure, is the key limiting factor in distance running performance. In a carefully argued Chapter 2, complete with dozens of references to research of the past decade to support his claims, Dr Noakes argues for an alternative "Central Governor Model" in which exercise capacity is primarily limited by coronary blood flow to supply oxygen to the heart. I cannot even present an outline of this fascinating alternative model in the brief space allocated here, but suffice it to say that Chapter 2 of his book, in which this theory is developed in detail, is alone worth the price of the book.

In addition to the physiology of training, there are entire chapters devoted to temperature regulation, ergogencic aids, injury prevention and treatment, apparel (emphasis on shoes), etc: all of the usual topics with which self-coached runners must eventually cope.

If I were to offer criticisms of the book for the sake of balance, there would be only two, both relatively minor.

(1) Chapter 6, entitled "Learning from the Experts" offers training programs from a number of famous past champions who raced over distances from 1 mile to the ultramarathon. However, as Dr Noakes points out clearly and often, many of these runners, almost inhumanly gifted with natural ability, became champions IN SPITE OF their obsessive, unbalanced training programs, and not because of them. For the person of average gifts, emulating the training programs of, say, Dave Bedford (who occasionally logged as many as 160--200 miles per week!)is a certain prescription for injury (as it ultimately was for Bedford). I would therefore suggest changing the title of this chapter to "Learning from the Champions." The accomplishments of these highly gifted people all too often had very little to do with "Expertise" in rationale training, as the current title suggests, and far more to do with natural endowment.

(2) Since Dr Noakes is willing to challenge the VO(2) max paradigm so openly, I think it is necessary that he offer some guidance on precisely what differences to the training program his alternative Central Governor Model implies. It is not easy for the non-specialist to see what amendments to training are implied by this alternative model; perhaps an addition to be incorporated into the Fifth Edition?

In summary, if you are a self-coached runner looking for an intelligent basis on which to construct a training program, then this 931-page book is comprehensive and has no real rival. If, on the other hand, you would prefer a 5-page pamphlet offering some training tables for the beginner, then I advise you to look elsewhere.

Rating:
Summary: Authoritative Reference Work
Review: I've read scores of running books and nothing compares to this one. It addresses every conceivable topic -- from training to injuries to equipment to nutrition -- with insights synthesized from the best scientific studies, leavened with the author's own intelligent extrapolations. The biographical analyses of history's greatest runners also happen to be immensely absorbing and entertaining.

Rating:
Summary: Running Bible
Review: If you have a top notch personal coach who tends all your needs, you don't need any book to improve your running. If you are like me who have the passion for serious running, enjoy reading and analytical thinking while having a full-time job + other professional activities, this book is a must-have. I got one for me and two as presents to my friends. Using this book as the major reference to coach and heal myself, I qualified for the Boston Marathon at my marathon debut after about one year's training, took 10 minutes off in another year and I am on my way to beat NYC marathon qualification time for guaranteed number. Running programs are everywhere. "Individualizing" has become a cliché. Understanding the fundamental mechanisms and principles behind body and training is essential to derive a healthy and effective training program that adapts to the body's response. Lore of Running distinguishes itself from other running books by offering a large volume of solid evidence to support the principles concluded by the author. The readers have the freedom of utilizing these materials, often presented in interesting ways such as stories about famous runners, to make their own conclusions. I feel like having a very pleasant academic discussion with the author who is convincing, but not dictating while reading the book. The background of the author - ultra-marathon athlete, researcher and practicing sports MD is perfect for writing such comprehensive running book.

This book is certainly not a quick recipe. It takes time to digest the material. If you enjoy reading, it is a plus. I have read some section multiple times. Another very good running book that takes much less time to read is Daniels' Running Formula by Jack Daniels that is geared more toward elite runners, but still very helpful for midpack runners like me.

Rating:
Summary: Running Bible
Review: If you have a top notch personal coach who tends all your needs, you don't need any book to improve your running. If you are like me who have the passion for serious running, enjoy reading and analytical thinking while having a full-time job + other professional activities, this book is a must-have. I got one for me and two as presents to my friends. Using this book as the major reference to coach and heal myself, I qualified for the Boston Marathon at my marathon debut after about one year's training, took 10 minutes off in another year and I am on my way to beat NYC marathon qualification time for guaranteed number. Running programs are everywhere. "Individualizing" has become a cliché. Understanding the fundamental mechanisms and principles behind body and training is essential to derive a healthy and effective training program that adapts to the body's response. Lore of Running distinguishes itself from other running books by offering a large volume of solid evidence to support the principles concluded by the author. The readers have the freedom of utilizing these materials, often presented in interesting ways such as stories about famous runners, to make their own conclusions. I feel like having a very pleasant academic discussion with the author who is convincing, but not dictating while reading the book. The background of the author - ultra-marathon athlete, researcher and practicing sports MD is perfect for writing such comprehensive running book.

This book is certainly not a quick recipe. It takes time to digest the material. If you enjoy reading, it is a plus. I have read some section multiple times. Another very good running book that takes much less time to read is Daniels' Running Formula by Jack Daniels that is geared more toward elite runners, but still very helpful for midpack runners like me.

Rating:
Summary: the bible for serious ultra athlete's
Review: The Lore of running is simply the best there is for any serious athlete...The scientific analysis of preparing then pushing the human body to its limits is well documented throughout the evolution of this sport . The principles apply to endurance in triathlon , which includes swimming & biking as well as running . Bravo is all I can say . The book is at my bedside year round especially now while training for Western States 100 mile run next month.

Rating:
Summary: Refreshing
Review: This book covers it all. From what is happening to your body on a cellular level, to injury prevention, to training programs, to what to wear, this book can tell you. It is also a large enough book that you can probabloy use it for bench pressing.

Rating:
Summary: Everything you wanted to know about running
Review: This book covers it all. From what is happening to your body on a cellular level, to injury prevention, to training programs, to what to wear, this book can tell you. It is also a large enough book that you can probabloy use it for bench pressing.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Scientificly Oriented Book on Running
Review: This book is applicable to beginners as well as pros. Noakes' excellent scientific based descriptions of most aspects of running and endurance sport in general make this book an essential title for anyone who intends to get a little more serious about this sport. The book also contains a lot of useful information about the history of running and ultradistance running. I hope that a new release of this book will incorporate some of the more recent training methods like heart rate monitors and new nutritional supplements.

Rating:
Summary: A complete running phillosophy
Review: This book provides a common sense approach to running backed up by detailed sceintific data and analysis. As such it very usefull for everyone in athletics from the novice to pro and coaches. It will definitely help you get the best out of yourself while avoiding the pitfalls. The best I have seen and one that I continue to find usefull after 4 years of reading and 15 years of running.